Sugua seems to get almost excited at the information, " GLORIOUS! I like the sound of this. Makes our job that much easier. Dissension in the ranks are why I like my kin.. they are only loyal if you're good at keepin' loyalty. Kressle doesn't like him and that means she ain't goin' back at this point. I'll have to keep an eye out for her. "
Sugua claps his hand on the shoulder of one of the bandits firmly, " How would you like stealin' from the Stag Lord instead... and maybe gettin a more.. constant income eh?! Like ya' said just caught up i this, might as well ride the winnin' side! "
Agreeing with Sugua's intentions Alphonse pipe up "Indeed, in return for a pardon for your pasts we can offer a place in an army we will need to reshape these lands to a place where common folk can make a decent living. you will have plenty to fight and a proper wage you dont have to rob to get." alphonse hopes a plee from more than one of them may sway these men. sometimes all someone needs is a way out
"If you can defeat the Stag Lord then I'll enlist in a makeshift army, but I'd rather do time in jail than risk my life betraying him."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Clousuk says Clousuk, Clousuk understand bandit's ah, predicament," the kobold says, nodding vigorously, "Clousuk would rather eat hot coals and sleep under heavy rock than betray Chief Sootscale."
" Eh, we dont have a jail. Basically they would likely kill you or something along those lines. Frankly we dont really have time to police that. The choice here is, you are alive now and can continue to be alive by helping us. Or try your chances with an angry Stag Lord. I mean., really it a win win for you. Say you join us, we kill the Stag lord.. You win! Say you d and we don't, likely he is either too weak to deal with you or you can lie and act like you were a spy. or Hell take the loot, run and live a comfortable life somewhere else. Easy. "
"Trade?"
"I tell you some useful information on attacking the Stag Lord, you let me go? My mates here too."
"Excepting Jahenas down there." He says pointing to the Bandit at the end. "He hurts children."
The accused man spits at Neils.
-Posted with Wayfinder
" I see no issue with that though I can't see how well you are gunna do without weapons. You plannin' on staying here? Otherwise I guess the 'humane' thing to do would at least escort you lot out the Greenbelt. Let me hear whatcha' got, sound good, I let ya go. "
Sugua's grin widens at Jahenas, " What does he mean by 'hurts children?' Eh? "
Vladimir glares at the man described as one who hurts children, waiting for his response to Sugua's question.
"I ain't done nothing to no kids." says Jahenas angrily.
"Liar!" says Neils.
"We found a man and his son here in the northern woods like two months ago, the man fought back, was foolish, didn't want to hurt him."
"We're not feeling good about leaving a young boy out in the woods to die, so we take him back to camp, raise him to be a bandit too, and now I ain't saying that's right, but it's a lot better than death."
"Anyways, we find him the next morning strung up and skinned."
"Now Kressle ain't got a lot of rules. Ceptin' two, we don't rape, and we don't hurt kids. We can threaten either as much as we like, but you cross the line, and Kressle herself will deal with you."
"Jahenas brother, Lucan, he was the Archer on the log you killed, good man. He told me once why he came down here, he was protecting his younger brother Jahenas who was wanted in Brevoy for killing two little girls."
"Lucan said he despised his brother but you can't choose your family. I respect that."
"So we're all knowing who killed the boy, but no one wants to say anything because Kressle wouldn't have just skinned Jahenas alive, she'd have done Lucan too just to set an example."
Jahenas breaks in again, "He's lying the scumbag!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
The two other men shout at Jahenas as well, "The hell he is you sick bastard."
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sugua places his hand up, " Alright Alright... I'll make a decision afterward. Besides Jahenas, nothing to worry about iffin' ya ain't done anything, RELAX! Now the rest of ya, Neils tell me more. I already like a bit you told me. "
"You mentioned the Stag Lord running low on alcohol...does he have a problem with the bottle? That is a weakness that could potentially be exploited."
" Oh yeah! I was gunna suggest we poison the Hell out of the booze send it up to him. Easy win! Not sure how you all feel about it though, not that i mind placin' a sword in him. "
"Poison could work, though I truthfully doubt that this Stag Lord would be foolish enough not to have a food or drink taster. Those in power didn't get that way without some level of paranoia...with this brand of ilk I imagine it would only be worse."
"Hey, don't go stealing my bargain chip." says Neils.
"So here's the thing. Stag Lord doesn't trust Kressle, so he doesn't let her deliver to the fort anymore, and ya can't get in without the right password. The bastard has gotten more paranoid as he's gotten more people like Kressle around him."
"So he changes it all the time. Point being, the Stag Lord now sends out men to come collect his monthly tithe. These guys know said password."
"They're supposed to be here in like six or seven days. I'm thinking, you all lay in waiting and ambush them, take atleast one alive and get the current password. Get all bandit looking up, bring some bottles of booze to him, empty or not, and you got yourself entry to the fort, minus a boatload of arrows."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"And in the meantime we do what? Let you go? We have no reason to believe anything you've told us is truth beyond the word of a bandit, and there's no honor among thieves, eh? I say we keep one of these...maybe all of these...under lock and key until we at least confirm what he's said about the password. I'm willing to babysit for a week if it means an easier time with this Stag Lord."
Sugua's face loses some of its jovial expression and he contorts it into some form of thinking visage.
Durielle attempts to stabilize any of the currently unconscious bandits who yet may live.
Nearly all of the downed bandits are dead by the time Durielle arrives to tend to them, but she manages to save one of the Archers atop the watchtower.
His face returns to the cheery, almost unnerving so, grin. His tusks showed proudly. " Alright! I think we are gonna go with that plan Khargol. Might get Kressle in that time. As far as lettin' ya free.. I'm thinkin to let Jahenas go free! HAHA! "
Sugua goes behind the man and cuts his bonds. Surely about to give a elated roar, Sugua then moves in front of him and tosses down a short sword. His smile never left. He looked Jahenas in the eyes and said. " Pick up the Blade Jahenas. "
Durielle attempts to provide insight for Sugua as he offers Jahenas the chance to meet his fate as a man. She will cast guidance on Sugua unless he does not allow it.
Sugua cracks his knuckles and pops his shoulder and he places a fist into his other hand. He nods to Durielle as she sees to be conjuring something to him. " Pick up the Blade Jahenas.. I won't even use one.. Look I'm unarmed even... " Sugua showing he hadnt drawn any weapons.
Jahenas grabs the blade and stands up, but Sugua punches him for doing so.
Which immediately sends Jahenas to the ground again unconscious.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Before Jahenas falls Sugua throws another fist with his cestus hand caving in the mans face in a brutal manner.
He then picks up the man by the scruff of his neck and looks to Niels, " Well you werent lyin'! I don't kill unarmed bastards, I only kill those on the battlefield. I didnt want to waste my blade on him. Now if I remember correctly Kressle hangs them up right? Let's show her a gift just in case she comes back! You all have to wait here though.. Then I'll let ya go... but not like Jahenas here.. "
Neils looks let down, "Fine, fine."
" Hey, hey It's not my fault they made a good suggestion. Lookie here, its not we arent gunna feed you and whatever. You kept your word, you told us information. And I'm gunna keep my word. Hell think of it like this.. Kressle is out there, likely she doesnt like the Stag Lord true.. but nothing stops her from finding and killing you. You'll be safer here then out there. It'll be a week tops, you'll have the rest of your life to do whatever. "
Sugua then goes to hang Jahenas' body from the archer tower.
" I'm not going to skin him like Kressle.. but Justice is Justice I suppose. "
"I'm not certain hanging him from the tower is wise; not that he doesn't deserve a hanging, given his crimes, but we don't want any attention drawn to the area until after we're done. Hanging one of them to be easily visible from practically any vantage point would practically scream 'Don't come this way!'" And we're basing ALL of this on the assumption that they and Kressle don't meet up to get forewarning of this."
" Eh? What are ya' talkin' about? They don't quite see eye to eye. What I do expect is for her to probably try an' attack during that time, but prepared coordination? I don't see it. This place is cleared in almost every direction, we would see them first likely as they wouldnt expect it. But alright I'll strip him and throw his ass into the ravine below.. should be just as good. " Sugua Shrugs.
"If Kressle is known for justice by hangin, then its not that big a warning id think Khargol and more par for the course round these parts. If you wanna hang him Sugua i have no complaints, but please as you said, no skinning, thats a tad to inhumane for my sensibility."
Turning to the bandits "Niels, is there anything in the camp youd like to tell us about before we ransack the place? Whn we let you go i dont think doing so unarmed and penniless will further our efforts to settle these lands, so to be fair i think it best we send you off armed and with some money in your pockets, with your promise that should we see your face again its for recruitment to an army to protect this place. any complaints to that notion my friends? Giving a kindness is good to help break the cycle of evil, hopefully the men here will even turn over a new leaf
" Sure, I promised they go free they go free. If they aren't limp-dicks I'll let them in the army make a good wage.. kill some monsters and take their stuff. "
Sugua is in the process of throwing an unconscious Jahenas into the ravine before something sparks in his head. " Anyone have some spare healin'? "
"I've found some of the Stag Lord's stash of booze. Not much, though," Donovan says as he returns to the group.
"I have a limited amount of healing power available on an individual basis."
Sugua smirks, " Your God is Who again? I wanna ask a favor. "
Donovan raises an eyebrow and says, "My patron is Ragathiel, an empyreal lord."
Sugua laughs, " Yeah, YEAH! Him. Vengence r whatever is in his teachings, right? Not a bad god now that I think about it.. just aint really my style.. anyway.. I want you to heal this man... before I throw him in. " Sugua says a-matter-of-factly
Donovan seems slightly puzzled by this request, but he accedes nevertheless.
Sugua grins.
As the man surely wakes up from his beating.. completely naked and dangling over a ravine Sugua shouts out in laughter, " Well Jahenas, I said I'd let ya go! I'm not one to kill helpless. Enjoy the trip down! "
He tosses the man into the sharp rock infested ravine.
As he falls he folds his arms and shouts again " Regret hurting those kids! You might go to the abyss.. maybe HAHA! " Turning to Donovan pleased with his work.
" Alright.. thats done! I need a drink... " Pulling out his wineskin, " Want any? "
Donovan accepts the proffered wineskin and sips a small amount. He habitually wipes the top of the mouthpiece with his thumb when he's done and hands it back to Sugua.
"Generally I am not one for such displays, but I have little remorse when it comes to those who prey upon children."
Clousuk nods in approval. "Sootscale egg-smashers would be treated same way."
Donovan noted with just a small sip.. something was quite strange or even.. uncharacteristic about this particular wine not to mention.. the wineskin itself. He'd likely have had various wines before but this.. was of a particularly expensive blend.. but seemed to hold a somber feeling with it. This was clearly no simple drink and thumbing the top his other hand feels and almost.. worn or hidden embroidering.. that which looks of.. a scorpion.
Sugua takes the wineskin back and his white eyes scan Donovan before tossing his head back and taking a greater helping, wiping his mouth with an arm. " Y'know.. you're alright. I was nice enough for you all not to waste your time with him.. nor 'soil' your hands eh? I was too nice giving him a warrior's defeat. "
Sugua turns his back to the two, " You all lived this far too.. Good job.. let's see if we can make it to this future Durielle-Elf speaks of... Though I would say.. ya' have to work on gettin' to cover.. Otherwise that Stag bastard is gunna light you up with arrows! HAHA! " The last line uncharacteristic lower than normal.
Donovan hands back the skin with an oddly twisted expression. "That beverage has some bite," he says wryly.
" Yeah! Don't find any like that anymore anywhere.. it's my special stock.. " Sugua guffaws.
" Surprised? "
Alphonse looses himself in thought a bit before realizing that if they plan to lay a trap for the stag lords men here they have one major issue, losts of corpses lying around. "Niels, do any of these men mean anything to any of you? how proper a burial do they all deserve? we will have to dispose of them and i am willing to dig graves if you tell me that they are at least not like johanes." And he looks to his companions "And any help is not required but appreciated"
" Eh? I suppose we could leave them to the wildlife.. or buy them in a hole somewhere.. "
"Probably should bury them if you want to actually stay here for a week, smell would get pretty bad eventually."
"Can't say as any of us were too close, some good men, some not so good; not as bad as Jahenas, mind."
-Posted with Wayfinder